How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in The Fletcher School!

We look forward to receiving your application - be sure to submit your contact information for program updates, deadline reminders, and event notifications. Click here to start your application for the MALD, MGA, MIB, MATA, LLM, MA, GMAP, and PhD in International Relations degree programs. Please contact fletcheradmissions@tufts.edu with any questions.

We offer a variety of degree programs to meet your personal and professional goals. Compare programs here to understand the key program features of each degree

We request that all candidates apply using the online application.

Applicants to GBA can find the application and related details here.

Applicants to MAHA can find the application and related details here.

Applicants to CSPP can find the application and related details here.

Current students and graduates of the MALD program applying to the PhD program should contact the PhD Program Director for application instructions.

Please note:

Application materials and supporting documents become the confidential property of The Fletcher School and are not returnable. We suggest that for your own records, you retain a copy of the application and make a copy of those documents that are not confidential.

  • Application for Admission

    Application Fee of $85

    Fee waiver eligibility

    Applicants affiliated with the academic and service programs are listed below

    Official Academic Transcripts

    Applicants may submit either hard copies of official transcripts directly to the Admissions Office or scanned copies of official transcripts via the online application.

    Two Letters of Recommendation (a third is optional)

    We prefer one letter each from an academic and professional reference, however we recognize that not all applicants will have access to both categories based on their professional timeline. Prioritize choosing recommenders who know you and can write about you well.

    Essay 1

    Please tell us about your goals for graduate study at Fletcher and for your career. Describe the elements of your personal, professional, and/or academic background that have prepared you for your chosen career path. Why is The Fletcher School the right place to pursue your academic objectives and to prepare you to meet your professional goals? What global and/or social contributions do you hope to make after completing your studies? Why have you selected the degree program to which you are applying? If you are planning to pursue a dual degree, please be sure to address this interest in essay one.

    MGA Essay 1 (MGA applicants only)

    Please tell us how your professional background, academic interests, and future goals align with the MGA program in particular?  What are your goals for graduate study at Fletcher and for your career? Describe the elements of your personal, professional, and/or academic background that have prepared you for your chosen career path.  Why is Fletcher the right place to pursue your graduate studies?

    Essay 2

    Please select and answer one of the following prompts:

    Please share how your background, worldview, or perspective influenced your decision to study international affairs.

    We are shaped by the places we live. Tell us about the city, town, or region that you consider to be your “hometown,” – that place where you lived for most of your life or to which you feel most connected. What makes this place special and how has it contributed to who you are now?

    Describe an experience (academic, personal, or professional) that contributed to your interest in the study of international affairs or an international career.

    Essay 3 (PhD applicants only)

    Please explain why you believe a PhD from a multidisciplinary program in international affairs at a professional school, as compared with a doctorate from a conventional program in a single academic discipline, advances your intellectual and professional ambitions.

    Essay 3 (MYF applicants only)

    What professional opportunities do you plan or hope to pursue during the next two years? What do you hope to learn and what skills do you hope to cultivate?

    Resume

    Please upload an up-to-date version of your professional resume.

    Official Test Score Reports

    GMAT or GRE (optional)

    TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency/Duolingo is required of international students whose native language is not English and who have not earned a university degree where English was the primary language of instruction (optional for GMAP applicants).

    Evaluative Interview (optional)

    Scholarship Application (if applicable)

    PhD Dissertation Proposal (PhD candidates only, 1500 words)

    Master's Thesis or Writing Sample (PhD candidates only)

    List of PhD programs to which you are applying (PhD candidates only)

  • An evaluative interview is a valuable way for you to share information about yourself and to learn how The Fletcher School will meet your academic and professional goals. The evaluative interview is a recommended, but not a required, part of the admissions process. PhD applicants, in particular, are encouraged to schedule an interview. PhD candidates should be sure to select the PhD interview option via the online scheduler. Interview appointments are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Interviews are conducted by current students, and occasionally, staff members. Interviews are evaluative, not informational, and a report of the interview will become part of the interviewee's application record. Interviews should be completed before an application has been submitted to Fletcher. We offer both in-person and virtual options for interviewing. See our interview calendar for more details and to schedule an interview.

     

  • Reapplication Policy

    Every year, some individuals who have applied in the past choose to reapply and are successful in the process. You may apply up to three times only. Fletcher saves application materials for three years, and applicants reapplying within this window may follow the streamlined application process outlined below.* If your previous application was submitted more than three years ago, you must complete a new application.

     

    • Application form
    • Application fee of $85
    • One new additional letter of recommendation
    • Updated resume
    • Transcripts for any new coursework completed since the last application
    • Official test score reports (if applicable)
    • Updated personal statement
    • Answer to the supplemental essay question
    • A description of how your candidacy has changed since your last application
    • Evaluative interview (optional)
    • Scholarship application (if applicable)

    *Reapplicants who were previously admitted to Fletcher should email us for additional instructions.

     

    Deferral Policy

    Candidates should make every effort to apply in the year that they intend to enroll. However, under certain circumstances, admitted applicants may need to defer enrollment and may do so for a maximum of one year. Deferral requests should be submitted in writing to the Committee on Admissions via the Office of Admissions. Deferrals are considered on a case-by-case basis. If a deferral is granted, a non-refundable $2,000 deferral deposit is required in addition to the non-refundable $500 tuition deposit. These deposits are applied to the first semester tuition.

Fee Waiver Eligibility

Applicants affiliated with the following academic and service programs are eligible for fee waivers

McNair ScholarsTruman Scholars; Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance Associates
Currently enrolled Tufts undergraduatesIIPP Fellows; Payne Fellows
Americorps (currently serving)PPIA Fellows
Peace Corps (currently serving)Pickering Fellows
Teach for America (currently serving)Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program
Teach for India (currently serving)Rangel Fellows
Teach for China (currently serving)Map Your Future candidates
Clarke Diplomatic Security FellowshipBLAC Board Scholars
Payne International Development Fellows